7 Sneaky Things That Ruin Your Sleep—and How to Avoid Them!

For National Women's Health Week, we beg you—get more sleep on a regular basis! Here's how to start.

7 Sneaky Things That Ruin Your Sleep—and How to Avoid Them!For National Women's Health Week, we beg you—get more sleep on a regular basis! Here's how to start.

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Your weight, mood, memory, longevity—you'd be hard-pressed to find a single aspect of your health that doesn't depend on getting enough shut-eye. So we asked Travis Stork, M.D. and Jannifer Ashton, M.D., two experts from the show The Doctors, to share some strategies that'll help you to log more shut eye. Start here: Don't let these seven sneaky sleep disruptors keep you up at night.

Your Peppermint Face Scrub
"Right before bed is the one time you want to tamp down all five senses," says Stork. "Avoid anything stimulating, even if it's just a scent."

Utter Silence
Women are hardwired to be way more sensitive to noises at night (read: we're on the alert for crying babies), says Ashton. So a small sound in total quiet can jolt you awake. Level things out with a white-noise machine.

P.M. Sweat Sessions
High-impact exercise less than three hours before bed could leave you with an energy rush, says Stork. If you must work out at night, take a bath before bed to lower your body temp.